Crestridge Ecological Reserve · Fire Management 16 Community Outreach/Education 16 Outreach and...

Crestridge Ecological Reserve 2015 Annual Management Report

Prepared for California Department of Fish and Wildlife

December 2015

Photo: J. Vinje, CBI

i December 2015

Table of Contents

Section Page Number

Introduction 1

Biological Monitoring and Management 1

Covered Species Monitoring and Management 1

MSP Rare Plant Monitoring 1

MSP Rare Plant Management 2

Brachypodium Management and Monitoring 2

Lakeside Ceanothus Photomonitoring 2

Invasive Plant Control 10

Habitat Enhancement and Restoration 10

Wildlife Tracking and Additional Surveys 13

Property Management 13

Access Control 14

Enforcement 14

Trails 15

Trash Removal and General Maintenance 15

Fire Management 16

Community Outreach/Education 16

Outreach and Interpretive Events 17

Reserve Ranger Program 17

Education 17

Weekly Volunteers 21

References 23

ii December 2015

Tables Page Number

1 MSP Plant Species: 2015 Results, Threats, and Management 3

Recommendations

2 Invasive Plants and Competitive Native Plants 4

3 Invasive Plant Treatments 5

4 Comparison of Lakeside Ceanothus Stands in 2014 and 2015 7

5 2015 Invasive Plant Control Activities on CER 11

6 2015 Incident Reports 15

7 Summary of Volunteer Hours 16

Figures

1 San Diego Thornmint Treatment Plot after Clipping 4

2 Brachypodium Treatment Plot, Polygon 1 (2013) 6

3 Brachypodium Treatment Plot, Polygon 1 (2015) 6

4 Differences in Vegetation and Flowering between Years (CECY-2) 8

5 Lakeside Ceanothus Flowering and Die-back across Years (CECY-6) 8

6 Differences in Nonnative Weedy Species between Years (CECY-2.7) 9

7 Volunteer Activities 12

8 EDI Plant Sale 18

9 Outreach Activities 19

10 Education Activities 20

11 Volunteer Activities 22

Crestridge Ecological Reserve, 2015 Annual Report

1 December 2015

Introduction

In early 2015, the California Wildlife Foundation, at the request of the California Department of

Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), provided funding to the Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC) to

implement priority management activities on the Crestridge Ecological Reserve (CER). These

activities have continued throughout calendar year 2015 working in collaboration with the Earth

Discovery Institute (EDI), the Conservation Biology Institute (CBI), and a number of

consultants, contractors, and volunteers. This progress report summarizes the major tasks

performed and accomplishments attained at CER during 2015. The report is organized around

the major areas of management activity identified in prior years:

Biological Management and Monitoring

Property Management

Community Outreach and Education

Biological Management and Monitoring

Covered Species Monitoring and Management

In 2015, biologists from the Conservation Biology Institute (CBI), with assistance from EHC

staff and volunteers with the Earth Discovery Institute (EDI), conducted the following biological

management and monitoring activities on CER:

MSP1 rare plant monitoring and management

Brachypodium management and monitoring

Lakeside ceanothus photomonitoring

Each task is summarized below and discussed in detail in the CBI letter report (CBI 2015).

MSP Rare Plant Monitoring

In 2015, rare plant monitoring focused on two plant species identified as priorities by the San

Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP 2013): San Diego thornmint

(Acanthomintha ilicifolia) and San Diego goldenstar (Bloomeria clevelandii). Both species are

MSCP covered species and have been monitored previously on CER.

We used the SDMMP rare plant monitoring protocol (SDMMP 2014), which was developed to

ensure data collection consistency in support of regional monitoring per the SDMMP’s

1 MSP = Management Strategic Plan. The MSP for western San Diego County was developed by the San Diego

Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP 2013) and identifies regional priorities for monitoring and

management.


2 December 2015

Management Strategic Plan (MSP) (SDMMP 2013). Per MSP monitoring protocols, monitoring

forms were completed for both species and have been submitted to SDMMP.

Table 1 summarizes survey results, identifies threats, and provides management

recommendations. Neither species was detected in 2015. Lack of detection may be due to

extended drought conditions and invasive species. Refer to Table 2 for invasive and competitive

native plants identified as potential threats to these species. Invasives control should focus on

species that may result in detrimental impacts to MSP species or habitats (e.g., altered resource

allocation, vegetation structure, recruitment, or competitive exclusion) (CBI et al. 2012).

MSP Rare Plant Management

CBI conducted targeted invasive plant management (clipping invasive species per Best

Management Practices, CBI 2014) at the occupied San Diego thornmint location on CER. This

task required knowledge of all species within the treatment area to ensure that only invasive

species were removed. Figure 1 shows the site after clipping.

Although San Diego thornmint was not detected at this location in 2015, we recommend

continued management to control invasive species and enhance thornmint habitat. Long-term

monitoring that encompasses a range of climatic conditions will determine whether or not San

Diego thornmint persists at this location. The species was detected here in 2000 and 2010-2012.

Brachypodium Management and Monitoring

CBI continued to manage the invasive grass Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) in

experimental treatment areas to restore habitat for San Diego thornmint (observed in this location

in 2000 and 2003) and maintain progress made over the last several years. An estimated 10 acres

of previously-treated Brachypodium-infested habitat were treated in 2015. Treatments were

conducted primarily by Recon Environmental, Inc., although EHC staff line-trimmed

Brachypodium in selected locations. Refer to Table 3 for treatment applications and schedule.

Differences in Brachypodium cover between years are depicted in Figures 2 and 3.

CBI biologists collected cover and species richness data in Brachypodium treatment plots

established under a SANDAG Environmental Mitigation Program grant. Data collected in 2015

have been submitted to the SDMMP for analysis; data analysis will likely occur in 2016.

Lakeside Ceanothus Photomonitoring

CBI and EDI continued long-term photomonitoring of Lakeside ceanothus (Ceanothus cyaneus),

which is a MSCP covered species. Photomonitoring was conducted by EDI volunteers according

to protocols established by CBI and used in 2010-2014. CBI labeled, organized, and formatted

EDI photographs, reviewed and analyzed 2015 photodocumentation, and assessed changes

between years. This effort is summarized below and detailed in the CBI 2015 letter report (CBI

2015).


3 December 2015

Table 1

MSP Plant Species: 2015 Results, Threats, and Management Recommendations

Species Population

Size by Year

Occupied

Habitat

(acres)1

Threats Management Recommendations

San Diego

thornmint

(Acanthomintha

ilicifolia)

2015 – 0

2014 – 0

2012 – 6

2011 – 1

2010 – 17

2000 - 55

0.0012

- Invasive Plants

- Competitive Native

Plants

- Thatch

- Small Population

Weed control. Hand weed annually unless

monitoring indicates less frequent weeding is

appropriate.3

Monitoring. Monitor annually to assess population

status and treatment success. Implement additional

management, as needed (e.g., dethatching, seed

augmentation).

San Diego

goldenstar

(Bloomeria crocea)

2015 – 0

2010 – 2,0004

NA5

- Invasive Plants

- OHVs

- Trails (unauthorized)

Weed control. Weed veldt grass and monitor for

germinating individuals and treatment success.

Access control. Install fencing and/or signage to

prevent trespass from adjacent homeowner, OHVs,

horses, and hikers.

Monitoring. Monitor annually to assess population

status and threats. Refine treatment frequency and

method, and implement additional management, as

needed (e.g., repair fencing, replace signage). Map

occupied acreage using a hand-held global position

system when the plants are detectable.

1 Refers to habitat occupied in 2015 (acres) or, if species was not present in 2015, habitat occupied during the last survey period.

2 Occupied acreage refers only to ‘small’ location on west-facing slope just east of Rios Canyon Road.

3 See CBI 2014 for Best Management Practices for hand weeding within Acanthomintha ilicifolia populations.

4 Although 2010 onsite population was approximately 2,000 plants, an additional 7,000-8,000 plants were observed just offsite.

5 NA = not applicable. No plants were detected in 2015, and previous data include point data only, so previous occupied acreage cannot be calculated.


4 December 2015

Table 2

Invasive Plants and Competitive Native Plants

MSP Priority Plants Invasive Plants Competitive Native Plants

San Diego thornmint

(Acanthomintha ilicifolia)

Anagallis arvensis

Bromus madritensis

Bromus hordeaceus

Brassica nigra

Centaurea melitensis

Erodium cicutarium

Hirschfeldia incana

Sonchus asper

Deinandra fasciculata

San Diego goldenstar

(Bloomeria clevelandii)

Anagallis arvensis

Bromus hordeaceus

Bromus diandrus

Bromus madritensis

Centaurea melitensis

Ehrharta longiflora

Erodium botrys

Festuca myuros

Hirschfeldia incana

Hypochaeris glabra

Logfia gallica

Sonchus oleraceus.

None

Figure 1. San Diego thornmint treatment plot after clipping (note bare ground).


5 December 2015

Table 3

Invasive Plant Treatments

Treatment Area Treatment Date Treatment Type Applicator1 Target Species

Polygon 32

Polygon 5

2/27/15 Fusilade II Recon Brachypodium

distachyon

Polygon 33

3/23/15 Fusilade II Recon Brachypodium

distachyon

All treatment plots

Polygon 1

3/24/15 Glyphosate Recon Nonnative forbs

Polygon 1 3/24/15 Hand-pulling Recon

Brassica sp.,

nonnative grass

seed heads

Polygon 1

(treatment plots)

3/31/15 Line-trimming EHC Brachypodium

distachyon

1 Recon = Recon Environmental, Inc.; EHC = Endangered Habitats Conservancy (Jonathan Appelbaum).

2 Incomplete coverage.

3 Treated most, but not all, of Polygon 3.

Photomonitoring was conducted on April 1, 2015 for photopoints CECY-1-3 and on April 8,

2015 for CECY-4-7. These dates were over a month earlier than previous photomonitoring

periods due to reports of early flowering.

Table 4 summarizes conditions at each Lakeside ceanothus stand. The major observations from

2015 were minimal flowering throughout the population and continued die-back of Lakeside

ceanothus in some areas (Figures 4 and 5), which continued trends observed in 2014. Because of

the change in timing of 2015 monitoring, we were not able to discern whether sparse flowering

was due to climatic conditions or monitoring period. For this reason, we recommend monitoring

at the same time each year (±7-10 days). Recommended baseline monitoring periods are May 1-

10 for CECY-1-3, and May 24-June 2 for CECY 4-7. If monitoring in multiple years of average

or above-average rainfall indicates low or no flowering during the baseline monitoring period,

then additional photomonitoring earlier in the year may be warranted to determine if these

changes are due to shifts in phenology. Note that we are not recommending additional

monitoring at this time.


6 December 2015

Figure 2. Brachypodium treatment plot, polygon 1 (2013). Note relatively high cover of Brachypodium, lack of bare ground, and lack of native species.

Figure 3. Brachypodium treatment plot, polygon 1 (2015). Note lack of Brachypodium, increase in bare ground, and presence of native annual species, fascicled tarplant (Deinandra fasciculata).


7 December 2015

Table 4

Comparison of Lakeside Ceanothus Stands in 2014 and 2015

Ceanothus (CECY)

Stand Number

Minimal

flowering

Die-back or

Sparse Foliage

Soil

Disturbance/Trail

Use

Increase in

Nonnative weeds

2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015

CECY-1 X X X X

CECY-2 X X X X X X

CECY-3 X X X X X

CECY-4 X X X X

CECY-5 X X X X X X

CECY-6 X X X X

CECY-7 X X X X

Because of the level of shrub die-off observed in 2015, we recommend continued

photomonitoring in 2016. Current climate predictions suggest increased rainfall (El Niño

conditions) during the winter months of 2015-2016. Under this scenario, photomonitoring in

2016 would provide insights on shrub recovery (if any) from drought over the short-term.

Soil disturbance associated with trail use was reduced in 2015 (Table 4). Nonnative, invasive

species (particularly, nonnative grasses) were documented at a number of Lakeside ceanothus

stands, although increasing weed populations were noted at only one stand in 2014 and two

stands in 2015 (Table 4; Figure 6). Stands where selective weed control should be implemented

during normal (or above-normal) rainfall years to ensure that invasive species do not increase in

extent include CECY-2 and 5, and possibly, CECY-3 and 6. Invasives control may include

hand-clearing (CECY-2) or herbicide control (nonnative grasses and forbs). In all cases, care

should be taken to avoid native species.

In reviewing the 5-year time series, it is also apparent that it would be helpful to standardize

photomonitoring protocols with respect to height, angle, and focal depth of photos. Refer to the

CBI 2015 letter report (CBI 2015) for revised photomonitoring protocols for future

photomonitoring.


8 December 2015

Figure 4. Vegetation and flowering differences between years (CECY-2). White arrow indicates band of herbaceous vegetation. Note flowering CECY in foreground in 2012 and lack of flowering CECY in same area in 2015.

Figure 5. Lakeside ceanothus flowering (2010-2011) and die-back (2014-2015) across years (CECY-6). White arrows indicate Lakeside ceanothus shrubs.

May 8, 2012 April 1, 2015

May 26, 2010 May 24, 2012

May 28, 2014 April 8, 2015


9 December 2015

Figure 6. Differences in nonnative weedy species between years (CECY-2.7). Note the presence of nonnative annuals in open areas in 2015 and absence of nonnative annuals in 2014 (white arrows).

May 13, 2014

April 1, 2015


10 December 2015

Invasive Plant Control

EHC land managers (Jonathan Appelbaum, Jonathan Piazza), subcontractors (Anthony Santare

and crew), and volunteers under the direction of Cathy Chadwick at EDI implemented invasive

plant control actions reported in this section. Target invasive species were identified as part of

the overall invasives control plan for CER (CBI 2011) or are associated with grassland

restoration near the Horsemill Road entrance to CER. Control activities are summarized below

and in Table 5.

EHC staff and subcontractors applied herbicide at the following locations:

o Horsemill Road entrance, including trails, shade house, mulch pile, grassland

restoration areas, and existing house (target species: nonnative grasses and forbs)

o Horsemill Road oak grove (target species: the nonnative grass, long-flowered veldt

grass [Ehrharta longiflora])

o Rattlesnake Point, Rios Canyon Trail (target species: nonnative forbs)

o Vista de Montemar Road (target species: nonnative forbs)

EHC staff and subcontractors conducted mechanical control (line-trimming) in the

Brachypodium restoration area (i.e., the EHC land manager line-trimmed Brachypodium

in experimental plots), near the mulch pile near the Horsemill Road entrance, and along

Vista de Montemar Road

EHC staff, subcontractors, and volunteers conducted hand-weeding at all invasive plant

control locations, including (but not limited to) the Horsemill Road riparian area,

grassland restoration area, and oak grove

Invasive control subcontractors inspected for weed germination after rain events (July)

Invasive control subcontractors monitored for weed germination (all locations)

Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

Habitat restoration efforts reported in this section refer to volunteer efforts in the grassland

restoration area and oak grove, and oak plantings and maintenance of irrigation by EHC staff.

Refer to the prior section for invasives control related to Brachypodium management.

The EDI weekly volunteers continued to maintain the grassland restoration area (Figure

7a). Activities included preparing areas for student plantings (marking planting areas,

digging holes), maintaining plant protectors, irrigating plants, weeding, and removing

plant protectors from mature plants. Volunteers installed signage around riparian areas

(Figure 7b).

EDI volunteers contributed to oak grove restoration by preparing areas for student

plantings (marking planting areas, digging holes), assisting with installation and


11 December 2015

Table 5

2015 Invasive Plant Control Activities on CER1

Month Activity Area2,3

Hours Active

Ingredients4

Concentration

(%)

Quantity

(gallons)

January Herbicide application HM: entrance, trails, house, mulch

pile, shade house, GL 30 Glyphosate 2.00 90

February Herbicide application HM: GL, house 24 Glyphosate 2.00 72

March Herbicide application HM: entrance, trails, house, mulch

pile, shade house, GL 24

Glyphosate;

Fusilade II

2.00

0.58

86

8

April Herbicide application HM: GL 10 Glyphosate 2.00 36

May Herbicide application HM: GL 5 Glyphosate 2.00 20

June Herbicide application HM: GL, loop trails, oak grove,

Rattlesnake Point, trail to Rios Cyn. 10 Glyphosate 2.00 102

July Post-rain inspections

Hand-pulling of weeds HM and other entrances 10 Glyphosate NA NA

August Herbicide application

Mechanical removal HM: GL, mulch pile area 39 Glyphosate 2.00 2.5

September Herbicide application

Mechanical removal

HM: GL, mulch pile area;

VM: roadsides 43

Glyphosate (HM)

Glyphosate (VM)

2.00 (HM)

2.00 (VM)

7.5 (HM)

2 (VM)

October Herbicide application HM: GL, entrance area, oak grove 32 Glyphosate

Fusilade II

2.00

0.58

40

24

November5 Herbicide application HM: GL, entrance, oak grove --- --- --- ---

December5

Monitor; herbicide

application

HM: all areas

VM: roadsides --- --- --- ---

1 Excludes Brachypodium control activities conducted as part of SANDAG Transnet Environmental Mitigation Program grant.

2 Areas: HM = Horsemill Road entrance; listed activities are in vicinity of this entrance. VM = Vista de Montemar entrance; listed activities are in vicinity of

this entrance. 3

GL = Grassland restoration area near Horsemill Road entrance

4 Fusilade II is trade name; active ingredient = Fluazifop-butyl.

5 Planned activities are listed for November and December, and are in the process of being implemented.


12 December 2015

Figure 7. Volunteer activities: a. watering grassland restoration area; b-c. sign installation.


13 December 2015

maintenance of the irrigation system, maintaining plant protectors, irrigating plants, and

removing plant protectors from mature plants. EDI volunteers also collected acorns in

Fall 2015 for additional oak plantings over the 2015-16 winter in the grove and nearby

oak woodland areas.

EHC staff planted two oaks near oak grove at CER (Horsemill area), and constructed a

trail area to prevent both damage to newly planted oaks and nonnative dispersal from foot

traffic. In addition, EHC staff added drip irrigation and buried the line in PVC

underneath the trail.

EHC staff checked and repaired all brass quick coupling valves in the meadow and oak

grove.

EHC staff repaired the drip line from the gate west along the roadside.

Wildlife Tracking and Additional Surveys

EHC and EDI staff and volunteers reported signs of wildlife use on CER and in

surrounding landscape linkages. Significant reports included four sightings of a single

male southern mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus fuliginatus) within the Horsemill Road

oak grove and grassland area between late August and late September 2015, a doe and

fawn in early summer, identification of mule deer sign (e.g., tracks) near the La Cresta

Heights entrance to CER and near the warden’s residence in early October 2015. Mule

deer is a covered species under the San Diego MSCP.

The San Diego Tracking Team reported ring-tailed cat (Bassariscus astutus) scat at four

locations on CER on April 18, 2015. This constitutes the first report of this species on

CER since a dead ringtail was found at the Horsemill entrance in 2005. The scat was not

confirmed by Scott Tremor at the San Diego Natural History Museum, although he did

confirm the 2005 observation. Mr. Tremor further indicates that while the recent sighting

is not surprising, identification by scat alone may be problematic because of other species

that resemble ring-tail and likely occur on CER (S. Tremor, pers. comm.). Ring-tailed

cat is a fully protected animal per the CDFW.

Jenna Stacy conducted lizard distribution surveys from the Horsemill entrance and

associated trails to the warden’s residence and through the oak grove.

Argentine ant surveys were conducted in mid-October by USGS staff Tritia Matsuda.

Property Management

EHC staff, with assistance from EDI staff and volunteers, conducted property management

activities in the following categories: access control, enforcement, trails, trash removal and

general maintenance, and fire management, as described below.


14 December 2015

Access Control

EHC staff conducted the following actions to improve access control on CER:

Secured the gate on Valley View Truck Trail.

Added a chain and sign at the Rios Canyon entrance to CER (north of Rios Elementary

School).

Gathered preliminary information on building/installing a second gate on Suncrest

Boulevard/Orchard Avenue.

Replaced gate and installed horse step-over at Valley View Truck Trail out of the oak

grove.

Met with CalFire to add an EHC lock on existing gate on Suncrest Boulevard.

Coordinated with Padre Dam to install security cameras for the lower Rios Canyon gate.

In process.

Enforcement

EHC and EDI staff coordinated with various agencies, including CDFW wardens, San Diego

County Sheriff’s Department, CalFire, and San Diego County Animal Services regarding

enforcement issues on CER. As of November 2015, 49 incidents were reported by staff,

volunteer patrol, recreational users, and neighbors (Table 6). Some reports included multiple

issues, so the total number of incident types is larger than the number of reports. Of the 49

incidents, 36 were reported by reserve patrol members, 2 by neighbors or recreational users, and

11 by EHC or EDI staff.

One instance of criminal trespass was reported on CER in 2015, which involved a homeless

person camping in the reserve with some evidence of using small cooking fires (July-September

2015). EDI patrol members shared information and locations on this individual with EDI/EHC

who kept CDFW wardens apprised. The EHC land manager worked with law enforcement to

locate this individual in early September in the hills east of Vista de Montemar Road. The

individual was given a citation and 24 hours to vacate the reserve. A background check at that

time revealed he was on probation and on an arson ‘watch list’ for a previous arson conviction.

The person did not leave the area after being cited. Therefore, wardens returned and arrested

him on September 20, 2015. The EHC land manager removed his belongings from habitat

subsequent to his arrest.


15 December 2015

Table 6

2015 Incident Reports

Incident Type Number of Reports

Motorcycle use in preserve 20

Other motor vehicle use in preserve 3

Dog off-leash 10

Dog attack 2

Wildlife sighting1 5

Criminal trespass2 6

Illegal dumping 3 1

All sightings related to southern mule deer; 4 of 5 sighting were in the Horsemill Road oak grove. 2

Homeless person camped in preserve; all reports related to the same individual.

Trails

EHC and EDI staff and volunteers continued activities to improve the trail system on CER:

EDI volunteers assisted EHC staff with trail maintenance and repairs throughout the

Horsemill area.

EDI staff and volunteers worked on an improved trail map for CER, which is expected to

be completed in early 2016.

Trash Removal and General Maintenance

EHC staff conducted the following maintenance activities:

Removed and recycled materials to the Waste Management facility in El Cajon.

Recycled large, rusted metal trough that was sitting trailside to the east of house.

Moved old gate materials away from trailside.

Recycled clutter herbicide water jugs from cargo container and wooden shed.

Replaced rusted galvanized water spigots near the house.

Repaired portable generator, utility tractor, and chain saw.


16 December 2015

Fire Management

EHC staff continued fire agency coordination and implemented fire management actions as

follows:

Coordinated with CalFire to monitor locks/gate access issues for fire safety and modify

gate structure and locks as needed (see access control, above).

Hired outside contractors to assist EHC staff in conducting fuel modification and debris

removal behind Rios Canyon Mobile Home Park during July 2015 to establish a safe

buffer between perennial native vegetation on CER and adjacent structures, including

residences and an elementary school.

Coordinated with CalFire crew on brush management and limited tree limb removal

along Lakeview.

Coordinated with and advised SDG&E utility pole clearing crews.

Community Outreach/Education

EDI continued to implement a diverse community outreach and education program on CER.

Major accomplishments are listed below by category. Refer to Table 7 for a summary of

volunteer hours.

Table 7

Summary of Volunteer Hours

Volunteer Activity Volunteer Hours

Photomonitoring 21

Miscellaneous hand weeding 21

Grasslands restoration 41

Oak grove restoration 121

Plant sale 36

Interpretive event 36

Reserve Ranger patrol training 75

Student habitat restoration labor 498

Weekly volunteers 354

Total Hours 1,183


17 December 2015

Outreach and Interpretive Events

EDI held a native plant sale at CER (Figure 8). This event was attended by

approximately 50 people. Sales included 234 plants in 42 transactions. Volunteer time

included 12 hours of preparation time with 6 volunteers contributed an additional 24

hours of time on the day of the event. In addition, the EHC land manager assisted with

the sale.

EDI conducted one interpretive event on the Birds of CER (Figure 9a). This event was

attended by 12 people for a total of 36 interpretive event hours.

In support of covered species, EDI maintained a poster display regarding American

badger (Taxidea taxus) at the Horsemill Road entrance information kiosk.

Reserve Ranger Program

The Crestridge Reserve Ranger Volunteer Patrol was established by EDI in 2011. In 2015, 28

participants attended 3 reserve ranger volunteer patrol trainings for a total of 75 patrol training

hours (Figure 9b). Training topics included:

Lizards of CER

Birds of CER

Raptors of San Diego County

Reserve rangers and concerned neighbors were responsible for reporting 36 of the 49 incident

reports made to EDI/EHC staff in 2015 (see Table 6).

Education

EDI instructors led 16 guided school visits to CER, involving 995 students from 11 different

elementary schools in 3 different school districts as part of EDI’s service-learning environmental

education program. Students participating in field trips were taught natural science curriculum

and assisted with restoration activities (Figure 10). Student volunteers planted 225 riparian

shrubs in the riparian corridor, including 25 San Diego sedge plants (Carex spissa) in support of

the Harbison dun skipper (Euphyes vestris harbisoni). The remaining riparian plant palette

included San Diego sagewort (Artemisia palmeri), mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), California

fuchsia (Epilobium canum), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), southern honeysuckle (Lonicera

subspicata), blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) (formerly S. mexicana), and

California goldenrod (Solidago californica). In addition, 657 students planted 657 purple

needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) plants. All together, these students performed 498 hours of

volunteer habitat restoration labor at CER.


18 December 2015

Figure 8. EDI plant sale: a-b, c. selecting plants, d. plant sale table.


19 December 2015

Figure 9. Outreach activities: a. bird watching field trip, b. volunteer patrol.


20 December 2015

Figure 10. Education activities: a. students arriving, b-c. students planting native grasses; d. celebrating a job well-done!


21 December 2015

Weekly Volunteers

In addition to the photomonitoring and restoration activities described in previous sections,

weekly volunteers under the direction of EDI assisted with activities such as clean-up of dump

sites (Figure 11) and maintenance of the native plant demonstration garden at CER. These

volunteers contributed a total of 354 hours of time (a value of $8,560) to CER and EHC projects

and properties in 2015.


22 December 2015

Figure 11. Volunteer activities: a.-c. trash cleanup.


23 December 2015

References

Conservation Biology Institute (CBI). 2011. Biological monitoring status report, Crestridge

Ecological Reserve. Prepared for Endangered Habitats Conservancy. December. 20 pp.

Conservation Biology Institute (CBI). 2014. Adaptive management framework for the

endangered San Diego thornmint, Acanthomintha ilicifolia, San Diego County,

California. Prepared for California Department of Fish and Wildlife, local assistance

grant P1182113. March. 27 pp. + appendices.

Conservation Biology Institute (CBI). 2015. Letter report, 2015 biological monitoring and

management on the Crestridge Ecological Reserve. Prepared for Endangered Habitats

Conservancy. 10 pp. + appendices. September.

Conservation Biology Institute (CBI), Dendra, Inc., and California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-

IPC). 2012. Management priorities for invasive non-native plants: a strategy for regional

implementation, San Diego County, California. Prepared for San Diego Association of

Governments (SANDAG), contract no. 5001322. 83 pp.

San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP). 2013. Management Strategic Plan

for Conserved Lands in Western San Diego County, v. 08.27.2013.

San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP). 2014. Rare plant monitoring

protocol and field form. Updated 3/5/15.

Tremor, S. 2015. Mammalogist, San Diego Natural History Museum. Personal communication

with J. Stallcup. December 3.

Photograph Acknowledgements

Cover photo: CBI

Figures 1-3: CBI

Figures 4-6: CBI, EDI

Figures 7-11: EDI

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